Traveling to San Diego: Nothing But Great Summer Vibes

California is one of my favorite places to visit during the summer. There’s nothing better than walking along the sandy beaches and exploring the great outdoors. For 4th of July weekend, Matt and I headed down to San Diego, California. We had a good time hiking the Mount Woodson Trail, eating delicious foods in Mission Beach., and paddle boarding in the bay.

Mission Beach

It was my first time in Mission Beach, and the city welcomed me with an immense energy. There was a ton of beach-goers, who were fired up for the weekend. Some proudly wore their patriotism with their clothing and others displayed their American flags on the beach.

Matt and I spent most of our time hanging out on the beach and strolling down Mission Blvd. We ate at some of the best local restaurants in town: Guava Beach Bar & Grill, Mission Restaurant, Saska's Steak & Seafood and Olive Café.

Olive Café was one of my favorite spots. They served breakfast, lunch and had a separate ice cream shop next door. The shop had a fantastic selection of ice cream and toppings. What’s unique about this place is that it closes precisely at 9:46 pm. The owner believed that one should get his or her ice cream fixed by 9:46 pm - and I totally agree! No one should wait until nightfall to get their sweet tooth fixed.

Matt and I also used AirBnB for the first time. We reserved a private room, which was only 15-20 minutes away from Mission Beach. The apartment was tidy, the room was clean and most importantly – the bathroom was spotless! Our host’s name was Mack, and he was super friendly and welcoming. We’d highly recommend his place to anyone staying in San Diego.

Potato Chip Rock

Matt and I decided to explore beyond Mission Beach and go hiking with his friend in Poway, California. We made our way down to Mount Woodson Trail, where the famous Potato Chip Rock resides. Our hike started from the CAL FIRE Ramona Fire Station on State Route 67. Taking this route is better than starting from Lake Poway. It’s shorter and it offers free parking. (First come first serve!)

From Route 67

Length: 3.75 miles round trip

Time: 1 - 1.5 hours

Elevation: 1,800 - 2,000 feet of elevation gain

Level - Moderately Difficult

Parking: street parking

From Lake Poway

Length: 6.6 miles round trip

Time: 3 - 4 hours

Elevation: 1,800 - 2,000 feet of elevation gain

Level: Difficult

Parking: $10 - $15 parking pass (all day)

Learn more on GoHikeIt.com

Mount Woodson trail was labeled moderately difficult, but after hiking to Charleston Peak – this trail was a piece of cake. The trail had gorgeous scenic views of the city and incredible natural rock formations. When we arrived at the Potato Chip Rock, there was a long line of hikers waiting for a photo opt. The line was moving slow, so I decided to take the best picture I can from afar.

On the way down, Matt almost got bit by a baby rattlesnake. Luckily, his friend spotted the snake before he stepped on it. It would’ve been an unfortunate situation… Ouch.

Back to Mission Beach – 4th of July

Our mission for 4th of July was plain and simple – tan, eat and chill. We decided to go back to our new favorite ice cream shop and go paddle boarding after.

It was my first time getting on a board, so I took very careful steps. It was a little windy as well, so I was having a hard time steering the board. With the weather condition and lack of experience, I knew falling was inevitable. But to my surprise, I stayed in balanced! I’d definitely go paddle boarding again.

#TravelThoughts

With all the places I’ve been to this summer, San Diego is by far the most relaxed city. It has this laid-back energy that was irresistible to catch. All the places and the people I bumped into, gave me nothing but great summer vibes. I truly had a pleasant time just wandering around the city. I’ve been going on extreme weekend trips this past couple of months, so it was nice to not have an itinerary, let alone be in a survival mode up in the mountains!

A special birthday shout out to Matt! I hope you had a fun birthday weekend babe!

A travel & lifestyle blog about working, hiking and traveling.

Hey there! My name is Margareth. I'm a curious individual, with a great desire to explore eclectic cities, gaze at the great wonders of the world, and more importantly - inspire others to live, love and travel.